Statutory Moderation and Assessment

The core service is centrally funded for Slough maintained schools.

Academies, free Schools and independent Schools will be charged for this service.  In the Autumn term a letter will be sent to these schools.  this letter needs to be signed and agreed, should they wish to be a part of Slough's assessment and moderation procedures.  It will outline the charges for this service.

All schools and academies are subject to formal moderation arrangements at least once in any four year period. Some schools will be moderated more frequently as moderation remains a key tool to support teachers and schools to be sure that standards are in line with national expectations.  These visits will take place in June each year. 

Moderation Process  

Academies and Free Schools must comply with statutory requirements for key stage 1 assessment. Schools must respond to STA communication in the autumn term, to confirm to STA which LA they wish to conduct moderation visits for each key stage. At least 25% of maintained schools and academies must be moderated each year.  Academies will be charged by the LA. Academies must provide their selected LA with proof of their most recent moderation visit and the outcome. 

If an Independent School wishes to submit its results for the national summary of results it must employ an LA and take part in their moderation process - moderated in the first year it participates and then at least once in every four year cycle. 

"I really appreciated their support and learnt a lot from the experience."

 

- KS1 Teacher

Schools are required to submit accurate teacher assessment data to the DfE each year.  This year data must be submitted by Thursday 25th June 2020. 

Schools that are selected for inclusion in statutory moderation arrangements will be notified on Friday 15th May 2020. In Slough, the window for moderation visits is Tuesday 2nd June 2020 to Friday 19th June 2020. From the 22nd June to 24th June schools could be re-moderated or be subject to part of the appeals process. Each school selected for moderation will receive a visit by members of the KS1 or KS2 moderation team. 

All moderators used have successfully completed this years standardization exercise as required by the STA (Standards and Testing Agency).   They will all be qualified teachers.

In 2019/2020 the moderation process will focus on outcomes for reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 1. At Key Stage 2 the focus will be on outcomes for writing. Teachers will be asked to provide evidence to support teacher assessment judgements made for a sample of pupils in each teaching group with year 2 or year 6 pupils. Pupils will be selected randomly from information provided to the moderators the day before, if data has been shared with moderators early, by local agreement. 

"The experience was very helpful with moderators and staff engaging in very positive communication."

 

 - KS2 Headteacher

Full details of the STA Moderation process and requirements, along with the Sloughs Moderation Arrangements can be found in the local authority handbook, which will be available on this website soon.

Testing Arrangements 

For KS1

Schools must administer the KS1 tests in English reading and mathematics during May 2020.  The tests do not have set days for their administration, and they may be administered to groups of pupils on different days.

For KS2

In 2019/2020 all schools are required to administer tests (11th May - 14th May 2020) in grammar punctuation and spelling, reading and mathematics during May. The test materials will be delivered to schools between Monday 27th April 2020 to Friday 1st May 2020. Test materials are subject to storage and security requirements. Materials are subject to secure storage requirements from the date of delivery until June. STA outline security of test material requirements in the 2020 ARA document. Schools should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place. 

In 2019/2020 the local authority is required to visit a minimum of 10% of schools, academies and independent schools if they are taking part in the tests, to complete administration and security checks. All advisers completing monitoring and security checks are DBS checked.    

For KS2 | Multiplications Table Check (MTC)

From the 2019/2020 academic year, the multiplication tables check (MTC) is statutory for all year 4 pupils registered at state-funded maintained schools, special schools or academies (including free schools) in England.  The MTC is an online assessment, designed to determine whether pupils are able to fluently recall their multiplication tables up to 12.  The check window opens on Monday 8 June for a 3-week period.  All participating pupils must complete the check in this 3 week period.

Phonics Screening Check 

The phonics screening check is a short, light-touch assessment to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills.   It must be administered between Monday 8th June to Friday 15th June 2020.

If the child is absent, then it can be administered between Monday 15th June 2020 to Friday 19th June 2020.

As with KS1 and KS2 test administration the Phonics Screening check is subject to STA security and administration requirements as detailed in the assessment and reporting arrangements handbook and all specific handbooks and guidance. 

The LA has a statutory duty to perform unannounced visits.  These are made to 10% of schools and academies before, during or after the check period in June.  This is to ensure schools have robust procedures in place to maintain the integrity of the checks.